Langston Hughes wrote this poem as an expression of frustration at racial injustice. At the time it was composed, progress toward equality was slow, racial segregation continued in the United States, and the dream of equality was continually delayed. Citing specific examples from the text, describe how the speaker’s imagery supports the frustration.
One example in the poem of imagery that supports the speaker's frustration at racial injustice is when Hughes writes, "It’s not gold. It’s just a dream that’s been deferred." This imagery of a dream being deferred evokes a sense of longing and disappointment, as if the speaker's hopes for equality have been continuously put off and delayed. The use of "gold" as a symbol of opportunity and prosperity further emphasizes the deep disappointment the speaker feels at the lack of progress in achieving equality.
Additionally, the line, "Or fester like a sore - and then run?" conjures up vivid imagery of a wound that is left untreated and worsens over time. This metaphor of racial injustice as a festering sore highlights the destructive nature of inequity and the harm it causes to individuals and society as a whole. The visual of a sore "running" suggests the painful consequences of ongoing racial inequality and the urgent need for change.
Overall, the speaker's use of powerful imagery in the poem underscores the deep frustration and pain caused by racial injustice and serves as a call to action for society to address and rectify these injustices.